A fast-moving storm will bring mainly rain to RI and SE MA on Thursday. Rain or a mix of rain and snow will develop by noon. Any snow will quickly change to rain, and the rain may be heavy at times in the afternoon. The temperature will rise into the low to mid 40s. The wind will gust to 30-40 mph near Buzzards Bay in the late afternoon, and 20-30 mph at the RI coast.
Rain may end as a brief period of snow between 7-10 pm, with the best chance of seeing flakes in the northern half of RI. The temperature will still be above freezing, and the snow will likely end within an hour of the changeover, so accumulation is unlikely in most spots. There may be a coating in N RI. The wind will shift to the west and gust over 30 mph late at night. The temperature will fall to near freezing by dawn.
Friday looks mostly cloudy and blustery, with gusts over 40 mph possible in E MA in the morning. Highs will be in the upper 30s, and a few flurries cannot be ruled out.
The weather looks fairly quiet to ring in 2017. Expect partly to mostly cloudy skies on Saturday. Lows will be in the 20s, and highs will be in the mid to upper 30s. A weak disturbance passing through on Saturday night may lead to a few light rain or snow showers. Snow accumulation is not expected, and any rain will be light. Lows will be in the 30s – not as cold as it usually is on January 1.
Sunday will be a pretty nice day, with some sunshine and highs in the mid 40s. Clouds will increase Monday with rain showers possible. Any rain looks light. Expect highs in the 40s. There is a better chance of rain on Tuesday. The wind will be gusty out of the southeast, and it may jump into the 50s.
